Automatic drier control



March 10, 1931. sja. BAILEY l J AUToMAIc DRiR cQNTRoL Filed Mayen 2, 1928 Patented Mar. lo, 1931'- UNITEDV STATES PATENT oF'FlcE y GEORGE B. BAILEY, 0F SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS v AU'IMATIC DRIER CONTROL Application filed March 2, 1928. Serial No. 258,656.

' air into the drier or the automatic positive expulsion of wet or moist air from the drier whereby the air within the drier may be maintained at a predetermined substantially constant degree of humidity.

At a given temperature it is only possible to dry any substance at a rate of speed which equals the rate at which themoisture is travelling to the surface of the substance. For instance, it is very wasteful, as well as practlcally impossible, to attempt to dry faster than the moisture is coming to the surface of the substance which is being dried. By controlling the moisture content ,of the air within a drier the drying rate of the air can be controlled inasmuch as an increase in the amount of moisture in the air causes a decrease in the dryin rate. Therefore, if we determine the rate o speed at which the moisture is coming to the surface of any particular substance at a given temperature, then by automatically controlling the moisture content or humidity "of the air we can make the drying rate such as to take care of the absorption of the moisture coming to the surface of the materialbeing dried.' Y

Apparatus embodying the invention C011- sists mainly in the following: A heated con` Vvecting surface over which a constant recirculation of the air from and to the drier is provided by a propeller fan or other 4 suitable means. Second, a thermostat with a bulb in the drier circuit and controlling the temperature of this air by controlling the supply of the heating medium to the convecting surface.

Third, another thermostat located within the drier circuit and having a Wet jacketed' bulb which controls the humidity of the air in the drier circuit by controlling a bloweror fan which exhausts air out of or blows air into the drier circuit.

If no air is added to or taken out during the air which is expelled 4from the drier. The

wet bulb being placed in the fast circulating air within the duct registers or responds t0 the true psychometric wet bulb temperature corresponding to the humidity within the' drier. Therefore if the drying process is desired to proceed at a certain temperature and humidity the operator sets his controls to this temperature and to the corresponding wet bulb temperature. When the, wet bulb tem-V perature begins to exceed that for which the thermostat is set the thermostat cuts in the fan or blower which forces in dry. air or eX- hausts the wet air. This causes a drop in humidity which causes the thermostat to stop the fan or blower when the humidityv has dropped to the predetermined degree.

In any drying process the higher the relative humidity that we reach the more eliciently the drying can be done.

In an apparatus embodying my invention and in the method of practicing my invention the'drier is a relatively enclosed drying space and when an apparatus embodying the invention is attached to the drier it makes a variably enclosed circuit consistingl of the enclosed space or drier, a duct in whlch there is placed a convecting surface to heat the air and a propelling device or impelling device to recirculate the air. The yapparatus comprises essentially the following: In connection with a drier there is provided a duct en' closing a heat convecting surface and a pro.- pelling fan which, when both the inlet and thefoutlet of the duct are connected to the said enclosed drier space, causes the air to be circulated from the drier through the duct and exposed to the heat from the convecting surface, and thenreturned into the enclosed drier space. This duct and relatively enclosed space will be hereinafter termed the drier circuit. y A thermostatic element is placed in the duct for controlling the admission of the heating p medium to the convecting surface. rl'his control is adjustable to an desired temperature. Another thermostatic element is provided v path of the recirculated air will register at a temperature corresponding to the wet bulb temperature of the air within the drier. This thermostatic element will automatically actuate an electric switch which cuts in and out a blower or fan which introduces dry air into the drier circuit or expels wet air from the drier circuit, thereby maintaining any desired constant condition of humidity within the drier. This thermostatic mechanism is adjustable to any desired wet bulb temperature corresponding to any desired condition of humidity.

The vinvention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined the claims at the close ofthis specification.

In the drawings:

Fi 1 is a side elevation partly in diagram and partly in section showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the drbulb thermostatic mechanism. y

ig. 3 is an enlarged sectional v iew of the wet bulb thermostatic mechanism.

Referring to the drawings there is shown at 10 a relatively enclosed space representing the drier with which is connected the Control the air in circulation.

mechanism embodying the invention. Connected with the drier 10 is an air duct 11 located onthe outer side of the side wall of the drier space. and havin an inlet 12 which opens into the interior o the drier andan outlet 13 from the drier into the duct whereby there is permitted a continuous recirculation of air through the drier into the duct, thence through the duct, thence from the duct to the inlet 12 back into the drier. Located within the duct, preferably in the upper part thereof near vthe inlet Qpening 12 to the drier, is a` heating. unit M which is provided with heat convecting surfaces. In the form shownvin the drawings the heating unit 14 is `heated by the mediumpof a steam pipe 15. At 48 is shown a motor-operated fan mounted within the'duct adj acent the heating unit 14 to keep Within the duct 11 is a wet bulb theremostat 18 having a wet bulb 19 of any type.

The thermostat 18 (see'Fig. 3) is provided y with a mercury tube switch 27 which is p ivoted intermediate its ends at 8 in a casing C and is connected by a series of levers with a` diaphragm or bellows (not shown) which in weer-11s` turn is actuated by a thermostatic fluid enclosed in a tube 31 of the wet bulb 19.

At 9 is shown a blower located outside of the duct 11 and having connection through pipe 16 with the interior of the duct whereby air may be exhausted from said duct and thereby cause the air to be exhausted/ from the drier with which the duct is connected. The blower is driven by an electric motor'17.

One terminal 23 of the motor 17 is connected by a wire 24 with one pole of an electric socket (not shown) and the other pole of the electric socket is connected by a wire 25 with a contact member 26 in the casing C of the thermostat 18. The terminal 30 of the motor is connected by a wire 28 with a contact member 29 in the casing C of the thermostat 18. The contact members 26 and 29 are connected to one end of the mercury tube 27` ration of water from'the wick 20 will cause reduction of temperature and the more rapid When the temperature of the wet bulb rises?y above a predetermined degree the levers will be moved against the pressure of spring 32 due tothe expansion ofthe thermostatic Huid and turn the mercury tube27 lonits fulcrum from the position shown in'VFig. 3 in which the contact is shown broken, into an inclined position such that the mercury will flow toward the left end of the tube and make the mercury contact'with the wires 25 and 28. When-the temperatur'egofthe wet bulb again falls below the predetermined degree the contraction of the/thermostatic fluid will permit the spring'32 to actuate the lever and tube 27 back tothe position shown in Fig. 3 so that the mercury contact will be opened as shown in. Said Fig.v 3. When the circuit is closed the blower 9 will be operative to either blow dry air into the duct orto exhaust the humid air from the duct according to requirements. The same results are obtained by either blowing dry air into or exhausting humid .air from the duct.

.Itis to be understood that the drier chamber 10 'is not sealed air tight but as usual in driers ofthis character as constructed there are numerous crevices in the walls through which the air from the interior of the drier can escape or fresh air maybe drawn in to compensate for the air which is drawn into the drier through-the pipe 16 or which is expelled through the pipe 16.

Dierences'in humidity and temperature of air affect materially the volume of air and the action of the blower compensates forthis volumetric variation which occurs without regard to normal capacity of drier space. As thel capacity of the blower is in excess of greatest requirements including structure leakages, etc., it can operate as described. If volume of air is increased in excess of capacity of atmospheric pressure, a corresponding plus pressure will result. If the blower exhausts air below atmospheric pressure the tendency toward vacuum will cause introduction ofatmospheric pressure and air will enter. If the structure leakage is not suicient, a simpler system of check valves should be employed.

The thermostat can be adjusted in well known manner so that the circuit will be closed and the blower started when the temperature 'rises above a predetermined degree. Therefore when the humidity rises to a certain point whereby the rate of evaporation falls below a certain rate so that the wet bulb temperature is above a predetermined point the circuit will be closed and the blower will be set in operation to draw humid air out of the duct and drier, allowing dry air to take its place or 1t will blow dry air into the duct until the humidity falls vto the requisiter point for the evaporation to cool the air sufciently to allow the contract and permit the circuit to be broken and stop the blower.

Normal temperature of the air when the humidity is not above the predetermined point of starting the blower 9 is kept up to at least a predetermined degree by the convecting surfaces of the heating unit 14. The heating medium for the unit 14 is supplied through the conducting member l5 having a thermostatically controlled motor valve 33.

' This valve is controlled by a thermostat 34 having a dry bulb, 35 operatively connected therewith. The thermostat 34 is provide 'with a mercury tube switch 43 which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 5 in a casing D and is connected by a series of levers with a diaphragm or bellows V(not shown) which in turn is actuated by a thermostatic fluid enclosed in a tube 51 of the dry bulb Wires 36 and 37 are connected at one end with contact members 38, 39 respectively in the casing D of the thermostat 34 and are conthermostatic fluid to nected at the other end with a three-wayl switch 40 -in the motor 4 of the valve 33.

' There'are also a pair of Contact members 41,

42 in the casing D having connections-through wires 44, 45 respectively with a wire 46 70 whose other end is connected with one pole of an electric socket (not shown) connected with a suitable electric circuit, for instance a lighting circuit. A wire 47 leads from'the other pole of the socket to 75.

one terminal Lof the valve umotor, 4,* the other terminal of which is connected to the three-way switch 40. The contact -members 38, 39, 41, and 42 are connected to the mercury adapted to be engaged by the mercury m 1n saidtube to start or stop the motor 4 according to the position of the tube.

When the temperature falls below a certube 43 as shown in Fig. 3 and are 80 tain predetermined point the circuit will be closed to start the motor 4 tolopen the valve 33 and admit steam or other heating medium to the member-'14. When the temperature rises abovea predetermined degree the circuit which controls the valve will be broken and the heating medium will be shut oli' from the member 14.

I claim: 1. In a chamber, la heat radlatlng member,

means for heating said heat radiating memi ber, means for circulating and rfa-circulating air in` contact with said radiatlng member, said chamber having a port which communicatesl with the outside air, means for positively forcing air through said port, said air forcing means being normally "inactive, a wet bulb thermostatin the path of the re-circulating air, means whereby said wet bulb thermostat controls the' said air forcing means, said thermostat being so regulated and adjusted that Awhen the wet bulb temperature varies from the predetermined degree the said air forcing means becomes operativel to pos 1- tively force the movement of air through said ort. p 2. In a drier chamber, a steam heated radiating member, means for circulating and recirculating air in said chamber over sai-d radiating member, a thermostat with a dry bulb, means whereby saiddry bulb thermostat 11 d said chamber and the outside air, means for forcing air through said passage and means whereby said wet bulb thermostat controls the operation of said air forcing mechanism to become operative at a predetermined degree 125 i of humidity and thereby controlsthe humidity ofthe air inthe chamber.

3. In a chamber, a heat radiating member, means for heating saidI heat radiating member, means for causing a circulation and re- 1 circulation of air into Contact with said heat radiating member, an air passage between the outside air and the said chamber, means for forcing the circulation of air through said passage, a thermostat having a wet bulb and means whereby said thermostat with wet bulb controls the operation of the said means for forcing the circulation of air through said passage.

Intestirnony whereof I affixy my signature.

` GEORGE B. BAILEY. 

